Alignment of golf putters with an intended putting direction

ABSTRACT

High performance putters utilizing effective visual alignment features, enhanced feel, and excellent rolling characteristics.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/410,576, filed Nov. 5, 2010, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to golf clubs. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to putters having one or more alignment aids.

BACKGROUND

For a putter to perform successfully for directing a golf ball along adesired line, the putter typically functions best when the putter looksand feels good to the golfer using the putter. The putter also needs toroll the ball in a manner that provides the golfer confidence in his orher putting skill. Additionally, for most play, the putter alsopreferably conforms to “The Rules for Design of Clubs” established bythe United States Golf Association (USGA).

Early putter designs (sometimes referred to as traditional putters) havesimple geometric shapes. For example, such putters typically comprise arectangular blade attached to a shaft at an end of the blade. Suchputters include end-shafted blade putters like “Calamity Jane” used byBobby Jones and end-shafted modified blade putters like the Wilson 8802made famous by Arnold Palmer. Early designers also moved the shaft awayfrom the end of the blade and towards the center of the blade in somedesigns. “The Schenectady” putter was one of the earliest of thesedesigns. Later putters were weighted and shaped to promote balance andalignment. For example, many golf professionals successfully usedAcushnet's “Bulls Eye” putter and Spalding's “Cash-In” putter in the50's, 60's, and 70's. Mallet style putters are another type of commonputters and comprise simple shapes. Examples include the Wilson“Biltmore” used by Billy Casper.

Karsten Manufacturing Corp. (now PING) started the modem era of putterdesign with the introduction of the PING putters. Early PING puttersfeatured advancements in heel/toe weighting. Many models incorporatedoffset shafts as a design feature.

Many recent designers have continued to improve putters by adding one ormore of visual alignment aids, heel/toe weighting, and perimeterweighting elements to increase the moment of inertia of putters, forexample. These design enhancements have produced a number ofcommercially available putters that are well received by the golfingindustry.

As putter designs have continued to evolve, putter head shapes havebecome more complex both geometrically and structurally. Many putterheads include varying geometric shapes, use of different constructionmaterials, variable weighting and feel, as well as complex alignmentfeatures (e.g., visual alignment aids). While these enhancements haveproduced putters with increased moments of inertia, some golfers findthe visual alignment aids to be visually confusing.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides high performance putters utilizingeffective visual alignment features, enhanced feel, and excellentrolling characteristics. Putter embodiments of the present inventioninclude heel/toe weighting and a linear visual alignment aid withoutvisually distracting elements. Putter embodiments of the presentinvention also can function to allow the golfer's head to be positionedbehind the ball, enabling the golfer to see down the intended line ofthe putt more effectively. Because the front face of the putter ispositioned in front of the shaft, up to a maximum of 5 inches, the ballcan be positioned forward in the golfer's stance while the hands andarms of the golfer remain centered, and hang naturally between theshoulders. Putter embodiments of the present invention, when swung alonga normal putting arc, will therefore contact the ball as the arc isascending slightly, producing topspin and a truer roll of the ball.

In an exemplary putter in accordance with the present invention, theneck comprises a simple narrow element parallel to the ground or theputting surface or both. In such a configuration, the visual cue thegolfer receives is the most effective and uncluttered. Moving the neckof the putter parallel to the intended line of the putt causes the ballto roll on that line.

In an exemplary putter in accordance with the present invention, theneck of the putter linearly extends in a perpendicular directionrelative to the front face of the putter, and in a direction away fromthe front face of the putter and opposite the intended direction of aputt.

An exemplary putter in accordance with the present invention comprises aneck that extends about 5 inches as measured from the face of theputter. It is preferable for the angle between the neck and the face tobe as close to perpendicular as possible so the visual alignment effectthat the neck creates for the golfer is parallel to the intended line ofthe putt and any optional alignment notch indicating the center ofgravity of the putter that may be present.

The neck of the putter can also be positioned to coincide with thecenter of the putter or the heel of the putter to achieve differentaesthetics and/or function as desired. In these cases, the weighting onthe heel and/or toe of the putter is preferably adjusted so the centerof gravity is located properly for the golfer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this disclosure, illustrate several aspects of the presentinvention and together with description of the exemplary embodimentsserve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description ofthe drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary putter in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the exemplary putter shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the exemplary putter shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exemplary putter shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of another exemplary putter in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another exemplary putter in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another exemplary putter in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another exemplary putter in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another exemplary putter in accordancewith the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention described herein arenot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to theprecise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Ratherthe exemplary embodiments described herein are chosen and described sothose skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principlesand practices of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary putter 10 in accordance with thepresent invention is shown. Generally, putter 10 includes shaft 12, body14, and neck 16 joining shaft 12 and body 14. Conventional materials andconstruction techniques used for golf clubs can be used to manufactureputter 10. Any desired conventional components can be used for shaft 12and body 14. As shown, body 14 comprises face 18 and optional groove 20.Neck 16 comprises vertical portion 22 and horizontal portion 24, asshown. As can be seen best in FIG. 1, horizontal portion 24 of neck 16is preferably generally perpendicular to face 18 as viewed from directlyabove putter 10, such as when putter 10 is held in a putting stance by agolfer. Horizontal portion 24 is also preferably parallel to optionalgroove 20, if used. Additionally, as can be seen best in FIG. 3,vertical portion 22 of neck 16 is preferably parallel or coincident withface 18 of putter 10 as viewed from the side of putter 10.

Putter 10 is configured so that horizontal portion 24 of neck 16 isgenerally parallel to an intended putting direction (identified byreference numeral 26), and horizontal portion 24 of neck 16 is alsooffset from direction 26. When viewed from above, as shown in FIG. 1,horizontal portion 24 of neck 16 provides an accurate putting andalignment aid that is related to and indicates an intended puttingdirection. Additionally, horizontal portion 24 is not required to behorizontal and may be provided any desired angle as long as theappearance of horizontal portion 24 from above functions as an alignmentaid as described herein.

In an exemplary embodiment, horizontal portion 24 of neck 16 is about 3inches in length, although it can be longer or shorter than 3 inches. Inone exemplary embodiment, vertical portion 22 of neck 16 is about 1 inchin length, although it can be longer or shorter than 1 inch. That is,horizontal portion 24 and vertical portion 22 of neck 16 can have anydesired lengths. If it is desirable for the putter to meet USGAregulations, the total length of neck 16 should be less than 5 inches.Putter 10 also comprises appropriate weighting to provide properbalance.

Putters in accordance with the present invention can include any desireddesign features or characteristics, as long as such putters include aneck comprising at least a linear portion that appears parallel orcoincident with an intended putting direction as viewed from above whensuch putters are held in a putting stance by a golfer. For example, neck16 may comprise a single portion or any desired number of pluralportions. That is, a horizontal and vertical portion, as shown anddescribed herein, are not required. Neck 16 can be attached to body 14at any desired location and preferably includes appropriate weightingadjustments to provide proper balance such as when neck 16 is notprovided at the center of gravity of body 14. Neck 16 may have anydesired cross-sectional shape such as round, square, rectangular,triangular, oval, and any desired combinations thereof, for example.Neck 16 may comprise any desired surface finish including surfacefinishes designed to improve viewing of any alignment feature such ashorizontal portion 24 of neck 16 of putter 10. In an exemplaryembodiment of putter 10, at least a portion of horizontal portion 24 ofneck 16 is smooth and relatively small in diameter, in order to achievea linear appearance similar to the imaginary line of the putt. Neck 16may comprise a portion that is visually distinct from another portion ofneck 16 such as by having a different shape, color, appearance, and/orthe like for one portion of neck 16 as compared to another portion ofneck 16. Moreover, neck 16 may comprise any desired alignment marks suchas dashes, arrows, or the like that indicate direction.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show an exemplary putter 28 that is similar to putter10 described above. As shown, putter 28 preferably comprises neck 30having horizontal portion 32 and vertical portion 34. Horizontal portion32 is preferably coincident with an intended putting direction(identified by reference numeral 36).

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary putter 38 comprising a neck 40 extending froma heel portion of a body 42.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary putter 44 comprising a neck 46 extending froma rear face 48 of a body 50.

The present invention has now been described with reference to severalexemplary embodiments thereof. The entire disclosure of any patent orpatent application identified herein is hereby incorporated by referencefor all purposes. The foregoing disclosure has been provided for clarityof understanding by those skilled in the art of golf clubs. Nounnecessary limitations should be taken from the foregoing disclosure.It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be madein the exemplary embodiments described herein without departing from thescope of the present invention. Thus, the scope of the present inventionshould not be limited to the exemplary structures and methods describedherein, but only by the structures and methods described by the languageof the claims and the equivalents of those claimed structures andmethods.

1. A golf putter comprising a shaft, a neck, and a body, wherein theshaft extends from the neck and the neck extends from the body, the neckcomprising at least a linear portion that indicates alignment with anintended putting direction as viewed from above the body of the putterwhen the putter is held in a putting stance by a golfer.
 2. The putterof claim 1, wherein the linear portion of the neck appears parallel orcoincident with the intended putting direction.
 3. The putter of claim1, wherein the linear portion of the neck comprises a horizontalportion.
 4. The putter of claim 1, wherein the linear portion of theneck comprises a vertical portion.
 5. The putter of claim 1, wherein theneck is positioned at the center of gravity of the body of the putter.6. The putter of claim 1, wherein the neck is spaced from the center ofgravity of the body of the putter.
 7. The putter of claim 1, wherein thelinear portion of the neck is visually distinct from another portion ofthe neck.
 8. A golf putter comprising a shaft, a neck, and a body,wherein the shaft extends from the neck and the neck extends from thebody at or near one of a center of gravity of the body, a heel of thebody, and a rear face of the body, the neck comprising at least a linearportion that indicates alignment with an intended putting direction asviewed from above the body of the putter when the putter is held in aputting stance by a golfer.
 9. A golf putter comprising a shaft having alongitudinal axis, a neck, and a body extending from the neck, whereinthe neck comprises a first portion that extends radially from the shaftin a generally perpendicular direction by a first distance in adirection of a front face of the body, wherein the front face of thebody is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the shaft by a distancethat is at least as great as the first distance that the first portionof the neck extends from the shaft, and wherein the first portion of theneck indicates alignment with an intended putting direction as viewedfrom above the body of the putter when the putter is held in a puttingstance by a golfer.